WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) today announced several new hires and a staff promotion.

Jonathan Cohen has joined NMPA as its new Vice President & Senior Counsel. Jonathan comes to NMPA from the Covington & Burling LLP Manhattan office where for over six years he worked in the antitrust and litigation practice groups and represented clients in many industries, including the music industry. Prior to his work at Covington, Jonathan clerked for the Honorable Janet C. Hall at the United States District Court, District of Connecticut and interned at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Civil Division. Jon is a graduate of Yale University and received his Juris Doctorate from New York University School of Law.

“Jonathan’s experience couldn’t be better suited for navigating the complex legal landscape that songwriters face in their fight for fair rates,” said NMPA President & CEO David Israelite. “Having specialized in the areas that most affect creators makes him uniquely positioned to work on songwriters’ behalf.”

Also joining NMPA is Shannon Sorensen, Vice President of Government Affairs & Counsel. Shannon was most recently a counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives and prior to that was an attorney at Pia Anderson Dorius Reynard and Moss in Salt Lake City. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University and received her Juris Doctorate from the Brigham Young J. Reuben Clark Law School. Shannon will focus on government relations and finding solutions to the many legislative and regulatory problems that plague songwriters.

“Shannon has already achieved so much in a short time, and we greatly look forward to what she will accomplish at NMPA,” said Israelite. “As songwriters face a steep climb on Capitol Hill, her experience and legal acumen will be invaluable as we represent the needs of creators to the legislators who can help them.”

Moving up at NMPA is Katharine McClenny who is now Director of Communications and the NMPA Gold & Platinum Program. Katie will focus on expanding NMPA’s reach and making the struggles of songwriters understood, as well as building out the NMPA Gold & Platinum honors, beginning with the first-annual Gold & Platinum Gala in Nashville this October.

Israelite added, “Katie has shown incredible growth in her three years at NMPA. Her management of the Gold & Platinum Program has raised awareness about this important honor for the creators of hit songs. She is an essential piece of our communications team and this new title represents the value she brings to our efforts every day.”